The Nigerian Shippers’ Council (NSC) has presented a Certificate of Compliance from the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) for Outline Business Case for the Gateway Inland Dry Port project to the Ogun State Government.
A statement made available by the Head of Public Relations, NSC, Madam Rebecca Adamu, disclosed this to newsmen on Tuesday.
The statement said that Mr Pius Akutah, the Executive Secretary, NSC, presented the Certificate to Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, during a visit to the governor’s office.
The ICRC was established to regulate Public Private Partnership (PPP) endeavours of the Federal Government aimed at addressing Nigeria’s physical infrastructure deficit which hampers economic development.
The ICRC (establishment, etc) Act 2005 empowers the Commission to take custody of every concession agreement made under the enabling Act and monitor compliance with the terms and conditions of such agreement.
It’s also to ensure efficient execution of any concession agreement or contract entered into by the Federal Government.
Akutah said: “I want to appreciate the governor for his commitment towards the development of the Gateway Inland Dry Port.
“The dry port will bring shipping services closer to the hinterlands for the benefit of shippers.
“I also want to emphasise the importance of technologies and automation at the ports. The automation will reduce human traffic at various ports in the country.”
The NSC boss stated that it was not only partnering the state government on the dry ports project, but also on a Vehicle Area (VTA) Project.
Akutah thanked President Bola Tinubu for creating the Ministry of Marine & Blue Economy as part of the diversification from oil to non-oil sector.
He appreciated the Minister of Marine & Blue Economy, Alhaji Adegboyega Oyetola, for his unwavering support on the actualisation of the dry port project and initiatives taken to strengthen the agencies under his supervision.
“The Council’s new Bill is to transmute Nigerian Shippers’ Council into the Nigerian Shipping & Port Economic Regulatory Agency.
“The Bill has passed through both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
“The bill when passed into law will promote efficiency of Nigeria’s ports and transform Nigeria to a regional maritime hub,” he said
He also sought stakeholders’ support for the Council’s aspiration to be realised as regards passing the bill into law.
The Executive Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapọ Abiodun, appreciated Akutah and his team for the visit and also applauded President Bola Tinubu for appointing a technocrat to head the Nigerian Shippers’ Council.
Abiodun noted that within a few months of Akutah’s appointment, Nigeria had recorded landmark achievements.
“One of the achievements under Pius Akutah is the groundbreaking of the state’s dry port project at Papalanto in Ewekoro Local Government Area.
“The Gateway Inland Dry port is very important to my administration, especially as the state is an industrial nerve centre and has manufacturers who will enjoy the ports’ services.
“The development of a dry port in Ogun will also reduce cargo congestion at the Lagos Ports,” he said.
The governor pledged his support for the passage of the NSC bill into law by President Tinubu. (NAN)
Author
